UEFA are set to shake up the Champions League and Europa League by getting rid of the away goals rule in the knockout stages.

The decision to dispel the rule, which has been in place since 1965, will need the approval of UEFA’s executive committee which will convene on July 9 before it is passed.

What is the away goals rule?

The rule, which means any goals scored in the away leg of a knockout tie are worth extra in the event of a tie, was close to being scrapped in 2018 but is back on the chopping block again this year.

The rule was initially designed to get rid of the need of a third game, or play-off, when teams finished level and is meant to encourage attacking play from away teams.

Recent use case of the rule

This season the rule, which also included extra time, saw Porto beat Juventus in the last 16, when they had 30 minutes to get an extra goal.

Porto won the first leg 2-1 at home, with Federico Chiesa getting a late goal for Juve. The second leg in Turin was also 2-1 in the normal 90 minutes, leading to extra time.

Sergio Oliveira's extra time free kick meant the Old Lady needed two goals in the final five minutes of the half an hour and Adrien Rabiot's goal only meant Porto won on away goals.

Mixed reactions over the decision 

The idea of banning the away goals rule has left fans divided. While there's an acknowledgement that the rule can be a little complicated, it does add an extra layer of excitement which you don't find in other competitions.